Latest update — 6 October 2026
This guide supports CDS 2026–27 preparation using the latest published CDS II scheme and official papers. CDS I 2027 is provisionally scheduled for 11 April; its notification is planned for 2 December 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest examination | CDS II 2026, held 13 September |
| Next calendar date | CDS I 2027, 11 April; tentative |
| Current syllabus reference | CDS II 2026 official notification; recheck the next notification |
| Academy choice | OTA uses English and GK; IMA/INA/AFA also require Mathematics |
What to use for the current session
Use the most recent official syllabus and the actual question papers for practice. Keep academy-specific eligibility and paper combinations together. The 2027 calendar supplies planning dates; it does not confirm new vacancies or carry forward birth-date cut-offs.
Official notification and syllabus PDF
Detailed guide: CDS 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Detailed guide: CDS General Knowledge Preparation 2026–27: Syllabus & Revision
CDS official detailed notification and Appendix I
CDS written papers at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA, INA and AFA | English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; 100 marks and 2 hours for each paper |
| OTA | English and General Knowledge only; 100 marks and 2 hours each |
| Question format | Objective; GK and Mathematics booklets are in Hindi and English |
| Wrong-answer penalty | One-third of the marks assigned to the question; no penalty for a blank answer |
Qualifying marks and competitive cut-off
UPSC can set qualifying marks in individual subjects. Passing a subject minimum is not necessarily enough to reach the academy’s competitive written cut-off. Written and final thresholds concern different stages, and OTA’s maximum differs from the three-paper entries. Compare like with like when using historical cut-offs.
SSB and final selection
SSB carries 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 for OTA, equal to the respective written maximum. Selection also depends on eligibility, medical fitness, preferences and vacancies. A self-calculated written score is neither an official result nor an assurance of recommendation.
Related guides and official practice papers
Current CDS eligibility · Complete examination pattern · Subject syllabus · Official previous-paper library.
Choose the correct year, session and subject. An official question paper is not automatically an answer key. Keep coaching explanations separate from UPSC-issued keys, and do not carry an old application deadline into a future study plan.
Calculate the penalty correctly
The penalty is a third of the marks assigned to a wrong answer. It is not necessarily one-third of a mark. If a question is worth m marks, its wrong-answer deduction is m/3. Marking more than one answer is treated as wrong even if one option is correct; an unanswered item has no penalty.
Worked example: illustrative values only
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Correct answers | 60 × 1 = 60 marks |
| Wrong answers | 15 × one-third = 5 marks deducted |
| Illustrative score | 60 − 5 = 55 marks |
This example assumes a one-mark question value solely to demonstrate arithmetic. Read the actual paper and official key to establish its marks and answers; do not infer question counts from this example.
Use practice scores responsibly
Keep an error log with the question, source key, reason for the error and topic to revise. Distinguish a concept error from a rushed reading error. Treat memory-based keys as provisional practice material and revise your calculation if the official key differs.
2027 session planning
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| CDS I / NDA I notification | 2 December 2026 |
| CDS I / NDA I application deadline | 22 December 2026 |
| CDS I / NDA I examination | 11 April 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II notification | 12 May 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II application deadline | 1 June 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II examination | 19 September 2027 |
The calendar provides dates. The next notification must establish its vacancies, eligibility cut-offs and application rules.
Related preparation resources
CDS previous-year papers · CDS syllabus checklist · 3- and 6-month study plans · CDS cut-off guide. Begin with the academy-specific paper combination, then practise official questions under each paper’s time limit.
Official sources
Checked on 6 October 2026. Later official amendments take precedence. Preparation plans are GovtAdhikari editorial guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a preparation plan guarantee selection?
No. Written qualification, SSB, medical suitability, eligibility and available vacancies all matter.
Is Mathematics required for OTA?
Not in the OTA written examination. Candidates seeking IMA, INA or AFA take it under the cited scheme.
Can I use the same rules for a later examination?
Use this as preparation guidance and recheck the notification for the actual session you enter.